The Millennium University Journal; Vol. 1, No.

1; 2016
ISSN 2225-2533
Published by The Millennium University

The Power of the Police and Human Rights Situation under Section 54
and 167 of the CrPC: A Critical Evaluation
Rabiul Islam1

1
Department of Law, The Millennium University, Dhaka, Bangladesh
E-mail: robilaw08@gmail.com
Correspondence: 323/A, East Rampura, Dhaka.Tel: +8801717227007.

Received: September 07, 2016 Accepted: September 28, 2016 Online Published: October 02, 2016

Abstract
In the recent years, there has been a considerable growth in the name of arrest without warrant and the inhuman
torture of the person arrested in the name of interrogation while under the police custody. This paper has
examined the impact of making arrest without warrant and the sufferings of the arrested person without trial
which give rise to the question of violation of human rights. The central focus of this research is to explore the
role of the police to protect the human rights in Bangladesh and to find out the problems faced by the police
while performing their duties. It also aims to go through the existing human rights situation in Bangladesh as
well as to find out the ways by making effective recommendations to improve the situation through positive role
played by the police in this regard.

Keywords: Power of the Police, Human Rights, Arrest, Remand.

1. Introduction
Police is the main law enforcing agency in our country and it is entrusted with the duty to secure public life by
maintaining law and order situation of the territory. To ensure the law and order of the country, its first task is to
prevent and detect crimes and criminal and apply the legal actions complying with the situation. There are lots of
other duties besides the main task and the protection of human rights has ultimately been entrusted to the police.
But unfortunately the police as well as its associated branches have been accused of violating human rights in
several times under section 54 of CrPC which has become a great disquiet among the people of our country.
Human Rights are the most important issues in the present context of the world. In every step of social and national
life people must have the opportunity to embrace their fundamental rights which in greater interest culminate in
human rights. Preserving the human rights absolutely for the people, a state becomes trustworthy to its inhabitants.
Without ensuring human rights in efficacious manner, no state can establish its existences and internal disciplinary
action. If the state becomes failure to ensure the best protection of human rights, then it lost its acceptance from its
citizens. The Government is the savior and knight in shining armor of fundamental rights of its citizen. So, the
Government should be responsible for the human rights of the citizens and should also ensure the protection of the
rights of its people, so that question may not arise as to the violation of human rights by the police for various
reasons while performing their duties.
There always remains a need to have a balance in the social and national life between the liberty of the individuals
and safeguards provided as to secure the rights of the same. How to ensure this balance is the basic dilemma that is
faced while there is implementation of the criminal Law as well as the constitutional Law. This is required to be
followed at every stage of the implementation of the process in any of its forms and manners. One of the processes
that impose a major threat to the liberty of the individual is that of arrest. There are many grounds of arrest under a
warrant issued by the court and the procedure has been set out in the statute. But, section 54 of the CrPC deals with
the power of police to arrest without warrant which culminate in the misuse of power, torture and inhuman
behavior of the police to the ordinary people. The statutory law permits remand of arrestee in police custody for
certain period. Particularly when investigation cannot be completed within the prescribed period of time, in most
of the cases police tend to resort to physical torture and cruelty ostensibly for the purpose of eliciting information

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ISSN 2225-2533
Published by The Millennium University

or extracting confession from the arrestee in violation of article 35 of the Constitution of the People’s Republic of
Bangladesh.

1.1 Statement of the Problem

In the constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh, the provisions relating to human rights are incorporated
in two separate parts namely part II- Fundamental Principles of State policy and part III- Fundamental rights and it
is notable here that the Supreme Court itself is responsible to protect the fundamental rights. As ensuring the safety
of the life and property of its citizens is one of the basic responsibilities of the government in all societies and the
government provides a feeling of security to its citizens by establishing and maintaining an efficient and an
effective police force that is to maintain the law and order in the country. But the collective security enjoyed by the
citizens is not enough in a democratic society they also want to enjoy their individual freedom and rights without
unwarranted and illegitimate interference by a coercive and an insensitive police force. In exercising proper
control and superintendence over their activities, the police need to be accountable for the various acts of
commission and omission and keep a close relationship with the community.
Police function includes both preventive and protective roles in the course of maintaining law and order and these
roles involve initiating programs to reduce caste and communal segregation and tensions, reduce opportunity for
criminal victimization and educate the citizens to the crime prevention measures. Also as a formal force, the Police
are thought as the best medium of protecting public peace and tranquility including human rights. But at present
human rights are becoming vulnerable and facing threat in many ways including wanton arrest, extra judicial
killings, torture in the name of police remand, custodial death, discrimination in getting justice and even in filing
cases etc. which are closely related with the acts of that very protecting force Police. Moreover, sometimes human
rights are violated by the malpractices of police under sections 54 and 167 of Code of Criminal procedure, 1898.
Women, children, workers, members of minority groups , persons with disabilities, even prisoners without trial
often face social discrimination, economic disadvantages as well as become deprive of the right to fair trial and
personal liberty and thus are becoming the victims of human rights violation. So, this dependable means of human
rights protection often come under severe criticism by public and media and the strict scrutiny of the Courts,
National Human Rights Commission and others Human rights organization for the allegation of the human rights
violation by them.

1.2 Research Questions

The police as the prime functionaries of the law enforcing agencies are mainly responsible to protect and secure
public life and security by ensuring law and order situation. But in performing their functions under different
circumstances this force is to endure and comply with various legal and professional complications. For this reason,
various questions arise as to the improper and unethical exercise of power, lack of accountability, unlimited power
of the police and its misuse etc. My research paper highlights on some questions as stated following:
 How much the legal procedure of making an arrest is followed by police before arresting a person?
 How much do the police apply power under section 54 of CrPC on just and equitable grounds?
 Who are mainly held liable for violation of Human rights among the ranks of police force?
 How much the directions pronounced by the Supreme Court are followed on the ground of making an
arrest and remand under sections 54 and 167 of the CrPC?

2. Literature Review
Human Rights are moral norms or principles which describe certain standards of human behavior and are regularly
protected as legal rights in international and municipal Law. They are commonly understood as inalienable
fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because he/she is human being and which are
inherent in all human being regardless of their nation, location, language, ethnic origin or any other status. These
rights should not be taken away except as a result of due process that is based on specific circumstances; for
example human rights may include freedom from unlawful imprisonment, torture and execution (Wikipedia).
Akkas, Dr Sarkar Ali (2009) in the book entitled “Law of Criminal Procedure” highlights that section 54 of CrPC
gives wide power to the police to make an arrest without warrant in certain circumstances. The philosophy behind

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Published by The Millennium University

this power is that prevention is the most effective approach to control crime. The object is to give widest powers to
the police in cognizable cases subject to the limitation that the powers to be used cautiously and reasonably.
Halim, Md Abdul (2011) in his book named “Text Book on Criminal Procedure” points out that section 54 deals
with general power of arrest and section 55, 56, 64 and 65 deal with special powers of arrest. The special power
under these sections cannot override the general powers of arrest in cases provided for in section 54. Thus a police
officer while under a special power of arrest may use his general power of arrest under section 54 and this is not
affected by the empowerment of his special power of arrest.
According to FIDH (International Federation of Human Rights), (2011) Bangladesh has failed to keep promises in
key issues of human right before the international human rights council as human rights violation continues
unabated here including extra judicial death, torture and cruel in law enforcement custody, act of violence
perpetrated on women and children.
Islam, Md. Saiful (2011) focuses on the human rights violation in Bangladesh through the preventive
detention and also put some recommendations in this regard.
Mahmud, Taucif (2011) studies the role of police to prevent crime in Bangladesh and he finds out various forms of
crimes including gross violation of human rights in the name of police remand, filing false cases etc.

3. Objectives of the Research

The main objective of this research is to explain the real human rights situations in Bangladesh and to understand
the problems relating to the role of police in this field under section 54 and 167 of the CrPC. Besides this, the
following objectives are noteworthy:
 To identify the major problems and issues caused by the police under section 54 and 167 of CrPC and
human rights situation
 To determine the role of the Govt. in Dissemination of Human rights and its practice by the Law enforcing
Agencies
 To forward some recommendations for the better protection of human rights by the police organization of
the country.

4. Methodology of the Research

To conduct this research in the light of the objectives, I have used the information from various sources relating
to section 54 and 167 of CrPC. This research paper is mainly based on secondary sources and data have been
collected from relevant books, reports, articles, newspapers, journals, internet, statutes and case studies etc.
Personal observation has been a key source for data collection and analysis. Moreover, the opinions of experts in
this field have greatly facilitated this research.

5. Data Analysis and Findings

5.1. Use of force as a means to collect information
The view expressed in favor of police remand is that it is a civil necessity that if some force is not used, no clue
can be found out from the hard nut criminals. On the other hand there, is a widely view that to send the arrested
person to the police remand prima facie upholds the idea that the accused person did not gives the confessional
statement voluntarily.

5.2. Violation of the Police Act, 1861 punishable but not in ordinary course of action
If any police officer cause unwarrantable personal violence to any person then he is liable to punishment under
section 29 of the Police Act of 1861, but when an accused has been tortured in police custody then most of the
time the police are seen not to acknowledge the truth of the fact. Moreover, they try to explain the fact in such a
way that they are not responsible for the situation complained of.

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Published by The Millennium University

5.3. Negligence to follow the provisions contained in the ICCPR, 1966

Article 9(1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, 1966 enumerates that “Everyone has the
right to liberty and security of person. No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest or detention. No one shall be
deprived of his liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law”.
Some others important procedure have also been embodied in this article for the arrested person relating to
inform the person arrested the reason of his so being arrested or charge against him, he should be produced
before the court or Judge within a reasonable time, he has an enforceable right to compensation for such
unlawful arrest or detention. But, the police for maintaining the command of his superior officer, personal
grievance, political intimidation and lust most of the times forget to function as the proper Law enforcing
agency.

5.4. Misuse of remand for legal lacuna

There is no proper guideline as to when such prayer of remand should be accepted and when rejected by the
Magistrate and this legal lacuna gives the police officer and Magistrates to abuse the same. Though, judicial
precedent has been established under different cases but, its practice not in optimal level.

5.5. Violation of equality and equal protection of Law

Article 27 of the Constitution of People’s Republic of Bangladesh provides equality before law and equal
protection of Law, but an accused is tortured even they die through remand in police custody.

5.6. Malpractice of safeguards as to arrest and detention

According to Article 33 of the Constitution of People’s Republic of Bangladesh, no person who arrested shall be
detained in custody more than twenty four hours without being informed as soon as possible of the grounds of
such arrest, nor shall he be denied the right to consult and be defended by a legal practitioner of his choice. But
there is no provision regarding to it in section 54 and 167 of the CrPC that is why an accused is faced in torture.

5.7. Breach of protection in respect of trail and punishment

Remand totally violates Article 35(4) of the Constitution of Peoples’ Republic of Bangladesh because at most of
the times in remand, an accused gives confessional statement against him under the undesirable pressure
imposed on him by the police.

5.8 Case Study

The following case studies are sufficient to show the real human rights situation and the afflictions caused to the
people at different times.

5.8.1 Case Study-1: BLAST and others vs. Bangladesh, 55 DLR 363
On July 23, 1998 a 21 year old University student, Shamim Reza Rubel died in the office of Detective Branch
under police custody. He was arrested under section 54 of the Criminal Procedure and later reportedly tortured to
death. It led to serious public outcry that instigated the Government to address the issue of custodial violence.
The Government forms a judicial inquiry commission headed by Justice Habibur Rahman Khan to investigate
the matter. The commission suggested some amendments to section 54 of Criminal Procedure. However, this
failed to change the situation. Within a few months more people were reported to have been tortured, raped and

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Published by The Millennium University

killed in police custody.

Following this, BLAST along with other concerned persons and organizations field a Writ Petition in the High
Court Division of the Supreme Court Challenging the arbitrary as also the section 54 and respectively remand
and torture under section 167 of the Criminal Procedure Code. The high Court bench comprising Justice
Md.Hamidul Haque and Ms. Justice Salma Masud Choudhury issued 15 point directives on 7th April 2003
regarding the arrest, detention, remand and treatment of suspects to be followed by law enforcement agencies.
The court also suggested that some changes be made in the procedural law relating to section 54 and 167 with a
view to preventing arbitrary arrests and custodial deaths and asked to the Government to comply with the order
immediate.

5.8.2 Case Study -2: In Saifuzzaman vs. State 56 (2003) DLR 324
The Supreme Court held that what is a “reasonable suspicion” must depend upon the circumstances in each
particular case, but it should be a least founded on some definite facts tending to throw suspicion on the person
arrested and not on a merge vague surmise.

5.8.3 Case Study -3:Alhaj Md Yusuf Ali vs. the State 22 BLD (2002), 231
The High Court Division interpreted “reasonable suspicion” in exercising power under section 54, as a bona fide
belief on the part of the police officer that an offence has already committed or is about to be committed. The
court further held that a police officer arresting a person unjustifiably or otherwise than on reasonable grounds
and bona fide belief renders himself liable for prosecution under section 220 of the Penal Code, 1860.

5.9 Expression of the writer

It is well known that every individual is entitled to some basic rights in all circumstances and it is the duty of the
government to ensure those rights of the individuals. But after reviewing the relevant literature and examining
the situation in different times I think that in lieu of protecting the rights of the individuals the police in different
times has been misguided by the political party leading the govt., personal usury, maintaining liaison with the
high officials, and sudden provocation. Now a day, it has become familiar among the people that the political
parties forming the government misuse the police force in controlling the opposition party. It is evident to all that
when the opposition party calls any political program namely party meeting, human chain, hartal, different
demonstrative assembly etc. then the police eliminate such activities complained of unlawful or unethical, even
if it is called on proper grounds corroborated by public demands. The Law enforcing agency at that time forget
the question of human rights and follow the command of their superior officer and propagate their own political
ideology. The lowest rank of the police force named constable are mainly employed in the field of maintaining
different circumstances though in a state of emergency the high officials of the force carry out the situation. It is
a matter of great regret that, the lowest rank of police are not highly educated and lacking in accurate knowledge
of human rights, professional training, execution of duties as to the code of conduct etc. At the time of
investigation of a case except judicial Inquiry, the police officers inquire into the matter but due to different
unmethodical processes question arise as to the charge sheet and final report. Filling of naraji petition against
charge sheet and final report has become a common issue in the criminal justice system. Moreover, at the time of
remand the officer attempts to collect information as per their own satisfaction and if the situation does not
favour to them then physical torture and other forms of punishment is inflicted to the person under their custody.
In this respect, The Appellate Division of the Supreme Court of Bangladesh on May 23, 2016 has delivered the

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verdict in an appeal of BLAST and others vs. Bangladesh case, in which the appellate division granted leave to
appeal of the state in 2004 against the verdict of the High Court Division.
The appellate Division referred the verdict of the High Court Division and also ruled parts of sections 54 and 167
as being contradictory to the constitution. The instructions include:
 Law enforcing agency must not arrest anyone under section 54 to put him/her into detention.
 They shall show their identity cards while arresting the person.
 They shall inform the arrested person the reason of his/her so arrest within three hours.
 They must inform the relatives of the person arrested from anywhere outside of his/her workplace or
house within an hour of such arrest through telephone or messenger.
 The detainee shall have the right to consult with his/her lawyer and relatives
 If the law enforcing agency want to quiz the person in custody, they must seek permission from the
magistrate and the interrogation must held in a room with glass walls inside the prison where the
relatives and lawyers of the detainee can be present.
 If the detainee alleges that physical torture was caused to him at the time of interrogation, then the
magistrate shall form a medical board to check up his/her health condition. If the allegation is true, the
magistrate shall take action against the responsible person under section 330 of the CrPC.
 If the instructions are followed properly, the sufferings and agony of the victim of suspicious arrest
would be lessened at a great extend. But, due to different procedural and legal complications the victims
of suspicious arrest are still to suffer a lot. The court also ordered not to arrest anyone without having
uniform of the law enforcing agency at the time of making arrest. But, arrest without having proper
uniform at present has added a great concern for the victim’s family and most of such arrest is being
made by the police on the ground of political motivation. So, human rights violation and the liability of
the police have reached in a stage where the ordinary people believe the police as a name of terror
forgetting its benevolent character.

6. Recommendations
 The legislative authority should up to date the existing criminal and penal laws in order to control crimes
and for the ends of justice.
 Dissemination of Supreme Court directions and guidelines as directed by the Court in making arrest and
detention of the person.
 Amendment of the existing laws as directed by the Supreme Court.
 Separation of the law enforcement activities from investigation by forming an independent investigation
cell.
 Proper human rights training should be provided to the police for creating awareness.
 Restoration of the people's trust in police by initiating various benevolent functions
 The government, media and NGOs should play the positive role in dissemination of human rights.
 Police ombudsmen should be established to overview and evaluate the activities of the police
administration.
 The principle of equity and fairness should be followed at the time of appointment and promotion of the
police personnel.

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 Police should be kept free in execution of duties from political interference.

7. Conclusion
Human rights are attached to a person from the time of its birth as human beings are born free and equal in the
estimation of rights and dignity. The duty to uphold this right initially lies on the police force and other law
enforcing agencies on behalf of the government or state. But sometimes, this force (police) fails to protect the
person, property of the person and even in many cases violation of rights of the person is occurred by this force.
Because, in our country most of the times, Rule of the govt. is followed not the proper sense of Rule of Law. The
police force and other Law enforcing agency are used as a means to substantiate and perpetuate the Rule of the
govt. There are many statutory Laws relating to the rights of the people dealing with proper protection and
punishment for its violation. But, the implementation and necessary amendment of these statutory Laws are not in
satisfied level as the governing wheel of the state is busy to establish Rule of the govt.
So, only law itself is not able to overcome all of the shortcomings rather its proper implementation is must to get
positive result. Like other fields, although the human rights Law has been promulgated by the universal declaration
nonetheless, it relates to other international covenants and also the constitutional Law of an indigenous country
which are not exhaustive in concrete sense to protect victims from frequent violations and police as an organized
law enforcing agency should play a crucial role in this regard to upgrade the human rights conditions in
Bangladesh. It is a matter of great regret that, though for professional complications, public perception on different
sensitive issues, political anxiety and situational pressure it may sometimes be difficult to ensure proper protection
of rights of the people but as a law enforcing agency, the role of police is laudatory and skilled professional training
is must for their sound implementation of identity.

References
Akkas, Dr Sarkar Ali (2009), Law of Criminal Procedure, (Ankur Prakashani, Second Revised Edition) Page
227- 229.
Halim, Md Abdul (2011, February), Text Book on Criminal Procedure, (CCB Foundation, Fourth Edition), Page
68- 69.
Faruque, Dr. Abdullah Al (2013, January), Analysis of Decisions of the Higher Judiciary on Arrest and Detention
in Bangladesh, (National Human Rights Commission, Bangladesh (NHRC) Page 31- 33.
Islam, Md. Saiful (2011), Preventive Detention Directs Infringement of Individual’s Human Rights: Bangladesh
Perspective,The Dept,. of Law, BUBT.
James Nickel, with assistance from Thomas Pogge, M.B.E. Smith, and Leif Wenar (December 13, 2013),
Stanford Encyclopedia of Philosophy, Human Rights, Retrieved August 14, 2014
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Sepúlveda et al. (2004), Burns H. Weston, (March 20, 2014), Encyclopedia Britannica, human rights, Retrieved
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Gary J. Bass (book reviewer), Samuel Moyn (author of book being reviewed), (October 20, 2010), The New
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torture, and execution) regarded as belonging fundamentally to all persons"
Jahan, Sadeka (2005), Section 54 and 167 of CrPC: Some Recommendations, The Daily Star, July 30, 2005.
FIDH and Odhikar, (2011), Mid-Term Assessment and Report on the Universal Periodic Review: Bangladesh.
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The Constitution of the People’s Republic of Bangladesh.

International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), 1966.

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